Bērakhōth

BĒRAKHŌTH. - First treatise of the Mišnah (v.), of 9 chapters, contained in both the Babylonian and Palestinian Talmud. As the title "Blessings" (v.) indicates, it contains rules on synagogue liturgy and on individual prayers.

Occasionally, however, it touches on many subjects, such as the physiology of the various human organs (61), the value of salt and of cumin as a tonic for the heart (5; 44), the harm of vegetables not well cooked (39), temperance in food and sleep (38; 62), the annoyance of one who must depend on others (6), respect for rulers (58), the interpretation of dreams (55-57), evil spirits (6; 62), the knowledge of the dead (18), etc. God must be blessed, but without exaggerated praises (32), even when some evil befalls us (60); he must be prayed to with reverence (31), without long-windedness (34) and without shouting (24), both for oneself and for one's neighbor (12), both in private and in the synagogue, where the presence of at least 10 members is required (8; 47). The many examples of prayers concern the synagogue (16; 17; 20), morning and evening (7), and the most varied circumstances: from bloodletting to the satisfaction of natural needs (60). v. ŠĚMA' and ŠĚMŌMEH'ĚŠĚMĚ.

Faustino Salvoni